To advance his goal of making New York State’s entire building stock carbon neutral, Gov. Andrew Cuomo launched this month the “Buildings of Excellence” competition, which promotes the design, construction and operation of low- or zero-carbon emitting buildings.
The competition, which will award $30 million in prizes, is part of Cuomo’s “Green New Deal,” an initiative included in his 2019 executive budget. The aim of the initiative is to provide clean energy and green jobs while supporting the state’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.
The three-round competition, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, will award up to $10 million per round and each project is eligible to win up to $1 million.
The first round is focused on multi-family buildings, with applications accepted through June 4 and awards expected this summer. Proposals can be for new construction or rehabilitation projects. Projects must demonstrate design and construction methods that can be easily replicated and adopted by professionals for future projects.
Awards are available for projects in any of four stages: early design, late design, under construction, and post-completion performance optimization.
The governor’s office noted that New Yorkers pay about $35 billion annually for electricity and heating fuels, and buildings account for 59 percent of statewide greenhouse gas emissions.
“The time for addressing climate change is now and today we are doubling down on our commitment to lead the way with a revolutionary path toward carbon-free buildings,” Cuomo said in a statement. “The development of low- to zero-carbon buildings will create healthier living spaces and communities for all New Yorkers, while driving down harmful emissions from one of our highest contributing sectors—our building stock—and pushing us forward on our path to carbon neutrality.”
More information can be found at nyserda.ny.gov
This article first appeared in The Southampton Press.
